Unemployment rate increases

August 25, 2010

PARKERSBURG - The unemployment rate for Wood County went up three tenths from June to July, according to Workforce West Virginia.

Workforce West Virginia recently released its Labor Market Information for July 2010. Unemployment in July was 9.7 percent and was 9.4 percent in June.

West Virginia's unemployment rate remained at 8.6 percent in July, WorkForce West Virginia reported today. The number of unemployed state residents rose 500 to 68,000. Total unemployment was up 1,700 over the year.

Wood County's total unemployment rose to 3,880 in July from 3,760 in June compared to 3,960 in July 2009. The county's unemployment rate was at 9.6 percent in July 2009.

Workforce West Virginia reported the total nonfarm payroll employment declined 4,500, where a loss of 4,800 in the service-providing sector easily overpowered a slight gain of 300 in the goods-producing sector. Within the goods-producing sector, gains of 200 in both manufacturing and mining and logging offset a decline of 100 in construction. Employment declines within the serviceproviding sector were fueled by the seasonal loss of 2,900 in government, almost entirely at the local level. Other losses included 600 in leisure and hospitality, 500 in trade, transportation, and utilities, 500 in professional and business services, 300 in other services, and 100 in educational and health services. Financial activities added 100 jobs, while information employment was unchanged over the month.

Employers in West Virginia expect to hire at a healthy pace during the third quarter of 2010, according to the most recent Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

"From July to September, 19 percent of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 8 percent expect to reduce their payrolls," said Manpower spokesperson Mary Ann Lasky. ''Another 67 percent expect to maintain their current staff levels and 6 percent are not certain of their hiring plans. This yields a Net Employment Outlook of 11 percent."

For the coming quarter, job prospects appear best in construction, wholesale & retail trade, information, financial activities, professional and business services, education and health services, leisure and hospitality and other services, officials with Manpower said. Employers in durable goods manufacturing, transportation and utilities and government plan to reduce staffing levels, while hiring in nondurable goods manufacturing is expected to remain unchanged.